Winebuys Guy Blog

Naia Rueda Verdejo 2006 - A Spanish White That Over-delivers!!

We used to go ga-ga over Sauvignon Blanc (and don’t get us wrong, we STILL indulge in a good glass or two whenever the opportunity arises), but lately, we’ve been smitten with a dry Spanish white that takes things to a whole ‘nother level. Verdejo is the traditional wine grape grown on the left bank of the Duero River in the Rueda region northwest of Madrid since the Middle Ages. It exhibits much the same kind of citrus character as does Sauvignon, yet with a distinctive personality all its own. (Interestingly, many Ruedas, such as Las Brisas, the delightful little sister of our featured wine here, are actually blends of Verdejo, Sauvignon and other white grapes. For a more in-depth report on Verdejo and Rueda, see Eric Asimov’s March 5^th New York Times article, Emerging, in Spain, to Warm Applause.)

The current Winebuy of the Week has been our go-to everyday white for a few years now, and for good reason. It’s consistently delicious and it’s very hard to beat for the money.

Naia Rueda Verdejo 2006 750 ml, 13% alc., $10.98: Medium straw in color, this gives a big hit of citrus right up front, with lots of grapefruit and lime, along with some kiwi and green apple to round things out, and good minerality to provide a solid anchor.  Showing excellent concentration and intensity, with racy acidity to keep everything moving right along through the nice long finish, this little lovely delivers far more than one has any right to expect for so few dollars. For food pairings, think seafood or grilled chicken, but it also serves admirably as a warm weather sipper on the back deck. Another glass, please!

Cheers,

The Winebuys Guy

 

Super Buy in Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc

One of the advantages to reading this blog is that on occasions such as this, I intend to “spill the beans” (or grapes, as it were) regarding upcoming Winebuy of the Week specials.  Even though we won’t post our latest selection until Wednesday, we already have this terrific buy in white Chateauneuf du Pape listed in our inventory, as one sharp-eyed customer who just ordered up a case has already noticed.

Domaine Berthet-Rayne is located right next to the famous Chateau de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf du Pape, the most prestigious appellation in the southern Rhone valley.  I’ve had the good fortune to meet and taste their wines with Dany and Christian Berthet-Rayne, and I’m an unabashed fan of everything they make, so when their local importer-distributor brought by a sample of their 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc and told me that it was deeply discounted for closeout, I had no doubt as to my course of action.  You simply don’t find wine of this quality for this kind of money very often, so I jumped on it, both for my cellar and for yours, dear reader.  Here are my impressions of this delicious libation:

Domaine Berthet-Rayne Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2005, 35% Clairette, 35% Bourboulenc, 20% Grenache Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 14.5% alc., $19.97: Pale to medium straw in color, with flavors and aromas of pungent white stone fruit, lanolin and mineral.  Thick and viscous, yet finely balanced, with enough acidity to keep everything moving right along through the lingering finish.  Drink it now with fish, scallops and hors d’ oeuvres, or lay it down for three to five years of further development.

Get it while it’s here, because it’s not likely to be around for long!

Cheers,

The Winebuys Guy